SOS: It’s a matter of life and death

It’s simple. You could be the difference between life and death this winter.

The RSPB Cymru has issued guidance and advice for local residents to follow this winter as the past three years of freezing hardship has decimated the number of birds visiting our local gardens.

And they have warned that some products, despite being sold by reputable shops, may actually be doing more harm than good so they have issued a warning about hidden hazards in some bird food packaging.

“Surprisingly, the netting that surrounds fat balls, peanuts and seed sold for bird food is one of the most dangerous things that can be put out in our gardens,” commented Val Osborne, the RSPB’s head of wildlife enquiries.

“Despite suggesting they must be safe to wildlife because of the way they’re sold, the mesh and netting can easily trap birds’ feet and beaks, causing severe injury or even death.”

RSPB Cymru recommends removing the food from the netting and transferring to a safe and suitable feeder.

Val Osborne continued: “Many suppliers of bird food now stock products without these potential death traps, but unfortunately, some have not followed suit and are still using these dangerous and unnecessary plastic mesh wrappers.”

With forecasts of snow and ice in the lead-up to Christmas, it’s now more important than ever to feed and water your garden birds, says RSPB Cymru.

Natural food sources have begun to dwindle, plants may become covered with snow, berry crops are coming to an end, and lakes, rivers and ponds are freezing over.

RSPB Cymru suggests calorie-rich foods like mixed seed, nyjer seed, fatballs, suet sprinkles, sunflower seed and peanuts as well as kitchen scraps, like mild grated cheese, rice and porridge oats. 

A supply of water is also essential for bathing and preening. In freezing conditions birds will become more dependent on water provided in gardens, since many natural sources of water are frozen over. 

Val says: “The most effective way to keep the water in your garden from freezing is to pop in a light ball that will be moved by even a gentle breeze and keep a small amount of water ice free – a ping-pong ball is ideal.  Alternatively, pour on hot water to melt the ice to make sure the birds can get to it.”

For more information about safe ways to feed birds, how best to look after the wildlife in your garden and ways to avoid the pitfalls, visit www.rspb.org.uk

The RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch is back on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 January 2013, giving people across the UK the chance to be part of the World’s biggest wildlife survey.  Register now to take part in at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or call the hotline on 0300 456 8330 to receive a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack.